Reflections on my 31 years of media advocacy

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Today, October 12, 2021 marks the 31st anniversary of my foray into media advocacy. What started in 1990 as a child’s play has become a vocation for me. The seed of writing was sown into my heart by Emeritus Professor O B C Nwolise, a renowned Political Scientist who encouraged me and the entire Extra Mural class students he thought in 1987 / 88 to stop agonising but engage in constructive advocacy for better governance through the use of media. I did not heed this worthy advice until two years after. Anyway, it has been worthwhile. Today, occasional writing in the 1990s has become a serious endeavour as I have been engaged by two newspapers to write weekly for them. First was The PUNCH in October 2012 through the influence of the Features Editor, Joel Nwokeoma and Authority on Sunday through the invitation of Chesa Ransome Chesa between 2015 / 2016.

Added to my weekly writing for newspapers in the last nine years is the opportunity granted me by Mrs. Amber Olague, the General Manager of Independent Television Abuja to be a TV show host. Since Wednesday, January 6, 2021, I have been hosting Development Focus with Jide Ojo on ITV. To date I have hosted 40 episodes of the programme. It is noteworthy that between October 2017 and March 2020, I was a paid News Analyst with Arise News TV.

My records show that as at today, I have been published in 42 newspapers and magazines, and have been invited to analyse news and current affairs on 40 Television and 43 Radio Stations. All of them are listed below by category. I have also published three books: Nigeria: Corruption and Opacity in Governance (2019), A Nation in Tow: Essays on Governance and Leadership in Nigeria (2016) and Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990 – 2010 (2010). In addition, I have contributed chapters in 11 other books.

In terms of impact, I strongly believe that my modest effort through media advocacy has contributed to improved service delivery and better governance. However, much as we are not where we used to be, we are also not where we ought to be in terms of good governance in Nigeria. I am gladdened by the positive reviews, feedback and recommendations to colleagues that I get from many Nigerian broadcasters and journalists. Even, readers, listeners and viewers are daily showering encomiums on me via my various social media platforms namely Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. For instance, during one of my interviews on Peoples Assembly on Hot 98.3 FM recently, one of the callers on the programme referred to me as a ‘Media Oracle’. Several other people have also told me they leave whatever they are doing when they see me on TV or heard me on radio. This is very inspiring!   

A Human Rights lawyer, Frank Tietie Esq referred to me as the most interviewed Nigerian during the Annual Human Rights fiesta his NGO, CASER organised in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission on December 10, 2020 at NICON Luxury Hotel Abuja. Though this assertion has not been empirically proven, I say without being immodest that I am one of the most interviewed Nigerian alive today. This is very humbling and gratifying. I have indeed sacrificed a lot of my time and other resources in pursuit of better Nigeria and an egalitarian society where there is justice, equity and fairness.

I seize this golden opportunity to appreciate the very many journalists who have found me worthy of being interviewed or published in their various media platforms. I do not take your love for me for granted. Thanks and stay blessed!

Newspapers, TV and Radio Stations that have featured Jide Ojo

Newspapers

1.       The PUNCH

2.       ThisDay

3.       The Guardian

4.       Daily Trust

5.       Nigerian Tribune

6.       The Nation

7.       Blueprint

8.       Leadership

9.       The Sun

10.     Authority

11.     Vanguard

12.     Daily Independent

13.     Abuja Enquirer

14.     Newsdiary Online

15.     Nigerian Pilot

16.     Premium Times

17.     The Cable

18.     Order Paper

19.     Peoples Gazette

20.     Daily Sketch

21.     National Concord

22.     Post Express

23.     Third Eye

24.     Nigerian Compass

25.     Daily Champion

26.     234 NEXT

27.     The Pointer

28.     A M News

29.     Weekend Classique

30.     Sharp Edge News

31.     365Daily

32. Law and Society Magazine

33. The Exquisite Magazine, Mass Com. Dept. MAP, Abeokuta, Ogun State

34. The Independite Magazine of Independence Hall, University of Ibadan

35. Corper Courier, Magazine of NYSC Delta State.

36. The Statesman

37. Image

38. The Ethics

39. Women’s Advocate

40. Voters News

41. Money and Politics (MAP) Newsletter

42.  Electoral Reform News published by Alliance for Credible Elections 

Television 

1.       Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) International

2.       African Independent Television (AIT)

3.       Channels Television

4.       TV Continental (TVC)

5.       NTA News 24

6.       Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN)

7.       NTA Lagos Channel 10

8.       Arise News TV

9.       Silverbird TV Lagos

10.     Peoples TV

11.     NTA Language (Yoruba)

12.     Independent Television (ITV)

13.     NTA Channel 5 Abuja

14.     Galaxy Television, Ibadan, Oyo State

15.     Kaftan TV, Abuja 

16.     NTA Ibadan Network Centre

17.     TV 360,

18.     Signature TV,

19.     Clearview TV,

20.     Roots TV,

21.     Silverbird TV Abuja

22.     NCTV/ TSTV

23.     South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) 

24.     Galaxy Television Lagos

25.     Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

26.     Thunderbirds TV

27.     AD4TVRadio

28.     Plus TV Africa

29.     Superscreen TV

30.     Aso TV

31.     Viewer TV

32.     Core TV

33.     News Central TV

34.     The Eagle (EFCC Enlightenment Programme))

35.     ICPC Enlightenment Programme on TV

36.     24 News 

37.     Atlantic Television Network, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

38.     Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)

39.     China Central Television (CCTV)

40.     BBC News

 

Radio

1.               Naija 102.7 FM Ibadan, Oyo State

2.               Women Radio 91.7 FM Lagos

3.               Oluyole 98.5 FM Ibadan, Oyo State

4.               Pensioners FM 106.7 Ibadan, Oyo State

5.               Hit 95.9 FM Calabar, Cross River State

6.               Faaji FM 106.5 Lagos

7.               Rhythm 94. 7 FM Abuja

8.               OGBC 2 FM Abeokuta, Ogun State

9.               Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Rivers State 

10.           Amuludun FM 99.1 Ibadan, Oyo State

11.           Vision 92.1 FM Abuja

12.           Love 104.5 FM (Crowther Radio) Abuja

13.           Ray Power 100.5 FM Abuja

14.           Hot 98.3 FM Abuja

15.           Nigeria Info. 92.3 FM, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

16.           Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)

17.           Kapital 92.9 FM Abuja 

18.           Voice of Nigeria 

19.           Kiss 99.9 FM Abuja

20.           WE 106.3 FM Abuja

21.           Greetings 107.5 FM Abuja

22.           WAZOBIA 99.5 FM Abuja

23.           Cool 96.9 FM Abuja

24.           Armed Forces Radio 107.7 FM Abuja

25.           Human Rights Radio 101. 1 FM Abuja

26.           Nigeria Info 95.1 FM Abuja

27.           Invicta 98.9 FM Kaduna

28.           Premier 93.5 FM Ibadan, Oyo State 

29.           Rockcity 101.9 FM Abeokuta, Ogun State

30.           Boss 95.5 FM Abuja

31.           Liberty Radio 103.3 FM Abuja

32.           Family Love 103.9 FM Umuahia, Abia State

33.           Eagles 102.3 FM Abuja 

34.           JAMZ 100.1 FM Ibadan, Oyo State

35.           West Africa Democracy Radio 94.9 FM, Dakar, Senegal

36.           PRIMOG

37.           Bright 98.7 FM, Abuja 

38.           Grace 95.5 FM, Lokoja, Kogi State

39.           Leadership Newspaper Podcast

40.           Daily Trust Newspaper Podcast

41.           Radio Now, Lagos

42.           Nigeria Police Radio 99.1 FM

43.           Maloney 95.9 FM, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Last updated October 12, 2021

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